Last September, for Banned Book Week 2012, I tracked down the 28 challenged books, videos, and newspaper articles (!) for the previous year. (Challenging a book is the first step to banning it.)
Somehow, I never managed to hit Send, so it's been sitting there in the hopper for slightly over twelve months , waiting . . . waiting . . . waiting. . . .
Sigh. Well, one of the principles we hold strongly to here at p3 is that Banned Book Week isn't over until we say it's over. So without further ado, here's the list. (This year's Oregon list is here, and I'm happy to report it's a lot shorter.)
Background about the project:
Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse 2012 Annual Report July 1, 2011—June 30, 2012Pay particular attention to the Objections and Comments (links to the original challenged materials are in the pdf link above):
Goal:
The goal of the Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse is to report on challenges to library materials in Oregon, and to provide information and resources needed by librarians to uphold the principles of intellectual freedom in their libraries. [...]
Summary of Challenges Reported in 2010-2011: The Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse received reports on 28 challenges to library material; challenge reports were received from eight public libraries and one school library. Of the 28 challenges, 20 of the items were books, 7 were movies, and 1 was a newspaper article. Twenty-six of the challenges were initiated by public library patrons, 7 of who self-identified as parents, one was challenged by a teacher, and one challenge was submitted by a school library staff person. All 28 of the challenged items were retained in the collection, one of which was reclassified from the teen to the adult section.
The challenged items below are organized alphabetically by title of the challenged item. Each challenged item went through a review process by their respective library’s board of trustees, library board, selection committee, or committee of staff members. Review processes typically are adopted procedures by which a reviewing body reads or views challenged material, collects information about the material, and makes a decision about the challenged material. Generally, the library director writes a letter to the party who has challenged the material informing them of the decision, and explaining the appeals process.
Charming Hotels & Resorts of Italy & Beyond by Julie Tither (book)
Objection: Other
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Patron concerned that item is marketing material for one company rather than an objective trip planning guide.
Daniel & Ana by Fortissimo Films (movie)
Objection: 1. Sexual (nudity, sexually explicit) 2. Values (violence)
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: None
Dogtooth (Kynodontas) by Boo Productions (movie)
Objection: Sexual (nudity, sexually explicit)
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: None
Dreams of Significant Girls by Cristina Garcia (book)
Objection: 1. Sexual (nudity, sexually explicit) 2. Social issues (drugs, suicide)
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Patron concerned that item promotes wrongdoing and provides teen girls with negative role models.
Dumb Bunnies Go to the Zoo, The by Dav Pilkey (book)
Objection: Other
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Patron concerned that reading this item may result in confusion and stupidity.
Evermore by Alyson Noel (book)
Objection: 1. Values (violence) 2. Other
Initiator of the challenge: Parent
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Parent concerned about dark and graphic content. Requested item be relocated from the teen section to the adult section.
Fantastic Mr. Fox by Twentieth Century Fox (movie)
Objection: Other
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Patron concerned that item may scare children and that the humor is not appropriate for every child and family. Requested item be relocated from the children’s section to the adult section and labeled ‘dark comedy’.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” -First Amendment to the United States Constitution
Female Thing: Dirt, Sex, Envy, Vulnerability, The by Laura Kipnis (book)
Objection: Sexual (sexually explicit)
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Patron objected to the image on the cover of the item. Requested that it and other items with similar cover images not be displayed.
Fox All Week by Edward Marshall (book) Objection: Other
Initiator of the challenge: Parent
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Parent concerned this beginning reader, which includes characters that smoke and lie, does not have a strong message against those behaviors.
Good Girl, The by Fox Searchlight Pictures (moive)
Objection: 1. Sexual (nudity, sexually explicit) 2. Values (anti-family) 3. Social issues (suicide)
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: None
Grave History and Telling Walks in North Portland, A (article in St. Johns Review; Vol. 108-No. 21) Jim Speirs (newspaper)
Objection: Cultural (racism, offensive language)
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Patron concerned that reading this article will lead people to believe the community is racist. Requested this particular issue be removed from the library and that all future issues be reviewed more carefully prior to making them available to patrons.
Growing Up Nigger Rich: A Novel by Gwendoline Y. Fortune (book)
Objection: 1. Culture (racism) 2. Values (offensive language)
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Patron concerned that the title is racist and offensive.
"One man's vulgarity is another's lyric." -John Marshall Harlan, Supreme Court Justice
Iktomi and the Berries : A Plains Indian Story by Paul Goble (book)
Objection: 1. Cultural (anti-ethnic) 2. Values (violence)
Initiator of the challenge: Parent
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Parent concerned item is not culturally appropriate for Native Americans and that suicide is not age appropriate for young children. Requested item be relocated from the young children’s picture book section to the juvenile section for older children.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill (graphic novel)
Objection: Sexual (unsuited to age)
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Relocated
Comments: Item was relocated from the teen section to the adult section.
Mechanics of Homosexual Intercourse: Stories, The by Lonely Christopher (book)
Objection: Sexual (homosexuality, sexually explicit)
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Patron concerned because item came up while searching the catalog for ‘Pokemon’ materials and requested the library remove ‘Pokemon’ as one of the keywords for the item. One short story within the book is titled ‘The Pokemon Movie’ so library did not remove ‘Pokemon’ as a keyword. Library instructed patron how to limit searches to children’s material.
Mother Number Zero by Marjolijn Hof (book)
Objection: 1. Sexual (unsuited to age) 2. Values (offensive language)
Initiator of the challenge: Parent
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: None
Nurse Jackie by Showtime Networks Inc. (television show)
Objection: 1. Cultural (insensitivity) 2. Sexual (sexually explicit) 3. Values (offensive language) 4. Social issues (drugs)
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: None
Oscar and the Very Hungry Dragon by Ute Krause (book)
Objection: Other
Initiator of the challenge: Teacher
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Teacher concerned item promotes overeating and patterning behavior.
Robopocalypse: A Novel by Daniel H. Wilson (book)
Objection: Values (offensive language)
Initiator of the challenge: Parent
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: None
Rosario+Vampire by Akihisa Ikeda (graphic novel)
Objection: Sexual (nudity, sexually explicit, unsuited to age)
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Patron requested item be relocated from the teen section to the adult section.
Samantha on a Roll by Linda Ashman (book)
Objection: Other
Initiator of the challenge: Parent
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Parent concerned that item encourages children to misbehave, engage in dangerous activities, and not mind their parents and that item portrays parents negatively.
Secrets of Boys, The (and all other titles by this author) by Hailey Abbott (book)
Objection: 1. Sexual (sexually explicit, unsuited to age) 2. Social issues (drugs)
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Patron concerned items promotes sexual activity, smoking, drinking, taking drugs, and other high-risk behaviors for teens. Requested items be removed and that the library take steps to ban them completely.
“For it has been rightly judged that… it is of paramount importance that the means of general information should be so diffused that the largest possible number of persons should be induced to read and understand questions going down to the very foundations of social order, which are constantly presenting themselves, and which we, as a people, are constantly required to decide, and do decide, either ignorantly or wisely.” -1852 Report of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library.
Secret of Water: For the Children of the World, The by Masaru Emoto (book)
Objection: Other
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Patron concerned book is unscientific. Requested item be reclassified as fiction.
Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People by Amy Sedaris (book)
Objection: Sexual (sex education, unsuited to age)
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Patron concerned that two crafts promote sexual activity. Requested item be restricted to patrons 19 years and older.
Starfields by Carolyn Marsden (book)
Objection: Other
Initiator of the challenge: Parent
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Parent concerned item may be too dark and disturbing for children. Requested item be relocated from the children’s section to the adult section.
Zack and Miri Make a Porno by The Weinstein Company (movie)
Objection: Sexual (sexually explicit, unsuited to age)
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: Patron requested item be restricted to patrons 18 years and older.
Zombie books by multiple authors (book)
Objection: Values (violence)
Initiator of the challenge: Library staff
Type of library: School
Decision: Retained
Comments: Library staff concerned that zombies are violent and inappropriate for elementary school age children. Request all books about zombies be removed from the library.
Zoo by Peggy Case (movie)
Objection: 1. Sexual (sexually explicit) 2. Other
Initiator of the challenge: Patron
Type of library: Public
Decision: Retained
Comments: None
Remember: If you are even remotely interested in looking at these materials, thank your local librarian.
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